Mastering English Conditionals and Future Tenses
English Conditionals and Future Tenses
First Conditional
Structure: if + present simple, will (can, shall, ought to, may, might, must)
Use: Talk about a possible future action or situation.
Example: If they ask for an explanation, they will understand the reason.
- You must pay attention if you want to understand the lesson.
- If they go to the interview, they might get the job.
Second Conditional
Structure: if + past simple, would (could, might…)
Type A: Hypothetical but Possible in the Present/Future
Example: If she asked her friends for help, they would help her.
Type B: Hypothetical, Unreal, or Even Impossible in the Present or Future
Example: If her sister wasn’t blind, she would take them to the gallery.
Third Conditional
Structure: If + past perfect (had + past participle), would have + past participle
Use: Unreal past situations; situations that did not happen.
Example: If you had asked me, I would have told you.
If you had worked harder, you would have passed the test.
Future Tenses
Present Simple
Use: Time table or something similar.
Example: What time does the bus arrive?
Use: After where/when/what/until/if/than.
Example: She’ll pay us back when she gets a job.
Use: Giving and asking for instructions.
Example: Where do I buy the ticket to Dover?
Present Continuous
Use: Fixed plans, when the time and place have been decided.
Example: We are going to Brazil next summer.
Use: Commands and refusals.
Example: You’re not wearing those jeans to school.
She’s taking medicine whether she likes it or not.
Shall/Will
Use: Think, guess, or calculate what will happen.
Example: Tomorrow will be rainy.
Use: Offers, requests, threats, promises, orders.
Example: Shall I open the window?
Use: After: think, wonder, hope, probably, and perhaps.
Example: She will probably go.
I think I’ll stay home.
Use: Decision we made at the moment, if we are going to do something.
Example: The phone’s ringing, I’ll answer it.
Likely/About to + Infinitive
Be Going To
Use: Emphasizes an idea of intention, of a decision that has already been made.
Example: We’re going to get a new car.
John says he’s going to call you this evening.
Use: A future action or event is on the way, or starting to happen.
Example: Look at the sky, it’s going to rain.
He’s going to bump into you.
Use: Commands and refusals.
Example: You’re going to finish the meal.
Sorry, but you’re not going to take my book.
Future Continuous
Structure: will + be + -ing
Use: Something will be in progress at a particular moment.
Example: This time tomorrow, I’ll be lying on the beach.
Good luck. I’ll be thinking of you.
Use: Predicting the present.
Linking Words
Addition
In addition (to), furthermore, moreover, as well as, not only… but also, what is more, besides, apart from.
Cause and Result
Because, as a result, so, therefore, consequently.
Comparison
Gradual Increase
Comparative + and + comparative
Example: She’s taller and taller.
They were becoming more and more excited.
Saying One Thing Depends on the Other
The + comparative, the + comparative
Example: The sooner we leave, the sooner we will arrive.
The sooner, the better.
Modifying Comparison
Much thinner, far less comfortable, very much better, a little funnier, a lot more expensive, a bit fatter, slightly bigger, rather more expensive.
So/Such
SO + adjective, SUCH + adjective + noun
Example: My sister is so good at tennis that she wins.
It was such an interesting film that…